Dave Casler
PO Box 98
Ridgway, Colorado 81432
Young Adult Novels by Dave Casler...
I've been told by publisher after publisher that there's no market for Young Adult novels. I think they're wrong! So I'm putting my novels on-line for you. Forget the publisher! Read to your heart's content--it's free! And, I'd like to hear from you, too! Contact Page.
You're reading About Dan. Be sure to check out About Phillip here.
Dan is a normal kid who loves his soccer. Except everything goes wrong. Everything.
About Series Home
About the About Series
Index to All Chapters
Here are all the chapters, disguised as asterisks. Hover your mouse over an asterisk to see the title of the chapter. Click on the asterisk to go straight to that chapter.
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(About Dan Home) (Last) (Next)
Ah, Tania!
"Ah, Tania," said Peter, sitting back. "Now there's an interesting case. She does get under the skin."
"So tell me."
"Let's just say she wants to pamper you in ways a good Mormon wouldn’t appreciate. I ran. You watch out for her. She's a handful." He leaned back and looked at the ceiling. "Yes, she can get under the skin. If you let her. I didn't let her. I'm warning you."
"So you're still getting over Tania," said Dan. It was his turn to be triumphant.
Peter looked at Dan and grinned sheepishly. "Point taken, young man. So, what are two poor boys to do? By the way, just how did Justin go about thanking you for handing him the prize of the evening?"
"Justin?" replied Dan. "I don't know. I haven't talked with either of them since the Fall Festival."
"Didn't you see them at church?" asked Peter, puzzled.
Dan turned his eyes away from Peter. "I didn't go," he replied.
"What? The great Mormon didn't go to church? Dan! I fear a massive earthquake. What great calamity kept you away?"
Dan was silent for several seconds while he mulled over his response. Peter had always been his confidant; there was no reason to hide anything.
"I didn't feel like it," he said finally.
"As in just what did you feel like?" asked Peter, incredulous.
"Actually, I've skipped lots of church lately. Mum doesn't care. I just haven't felt like going. It's like there's nothing there for me."
"Dan, my good man. You've always been like a rock. Tell all."
"I've always gone because I felt I belonged. Things have changed, that's all. It’s hard to pin down to one thing."
"As in, just what's changed? You have a bum leg. Does the Mormon Church want only perfect people? Is everyone like Lisa?"
"No, no. It's not that. People get up in Testimony meeting all the time and talk about how the gospel has helped them through some terrible crisis and all, so I guess it works for them. I just don't know how it works for them."
"So staying away is going to help you figure that out?"
Dan felt trapped. "Peter! Come on! I don't have the right words to explain it."
"I have a dictionary right here. See, lots of words."
Dan sighed. "Ok, let me try again. It's just that, well, you wouldn't understand."
Peter exploded. "Dan! How many years have we known each other? And I wouldn't understand?" He swore; Dan winced. "No, I'm not sorry for my language."
"Please, I didn't mean anything by that. It's just, well, ok, I'll try to explain. I tried to explain it to Bishop Parker once and he didn't understand either."
"Wait. I never made this connection before. Bishop Parker. Is he Lisa's dad?"
"Yes."
"And he's your bishop. He's the guy in charge."
"Yes."
"That's not a conflict of interest or anything."
"No."
Peter shook his head as though clearing out cobwebs. "But, back to the problem. Tell me what I wouldn't understand."